Wire-fence supporter



(No Model.)

W. G. GHO-LSON. WIRE FENCE SUPPORTBR.

No. 350,825. Patented Oct. 12. 1886.

811%) Aiformy UNTTnn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

\YILLTAM (i. GHOTJSON,OF CIXClNNATl, Ol'll(l.

WIRE-FENCE SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,825, dated October 12,1886,

Application tiled March 2-1, 1855.

ing and bracing the posts of a wire fence; and it consists of the combination, with the posts, of a brace-rod and an angle-plate, as more parr 5 ticularly hereinafter described and claimed.

It is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a straight section of wire fence with my invention applied 5 Fig. 2, a perspective view ofasection offence, showing the improven'ient applied to a post at a curve in the fence; Figs. 3, at, and 5, views in detail of separate parts of the improvement.

In the drawings, l\ is a fence post, to which the wires are attached in any suitable manner; B, a bracebar, C, the angle-plate on which the lower end of the brace rests; l'), a block of stone or wood to support the angle-plate, and E the brace-rod.

The brace-bar B, at its upper end, may be tenoncd to fit into a mortise in the post, or simply cut to sit squarely against the post. I prefer to use a double brace, as shown in Fig. 2. The bottom of the brace is grooved on each. side, as indicated at c, Fig. 1, so that the rod will fit into such grooves. 'lhe brace-rod E is a rod of stiff wroughtiron bent to go around a post, and each end of the rod is screw-threaded for several inches and provided with a nut. The angle-plate is provided with holes (I, through which'the ends of the bracerod are passed.

hen an angle -plate provided with'two holes of the form shown in Fig. 3 is used, the rod E is placed around the foot of the post, as. shown. in Fig. 1, the plate is placed on the ends of the rod E, and the nuts put on the ends of the rod. Then the brace-bar is set against the post, with its lower end resting on the angle- 50 plate, and between the arms of the brace-rod,

with the vertical side of the plate against the brace-bar. \Vhen the brace-bar is properly set, the nuts in front of the angle-plate are turned up against the plate, which, drawing upon the post at the bottom, presses the top 5 5 of the post backward, giving a counterstrain against the wires in the fence. \Vith the posts deeply set and anchored in the ground, the draw of the rod is on the middle part of the post, which is a little above the surface of the ()0 ground.

In using the improvement with a post at a curve in the fence the brace-rod is not bent entirely round the post, but nearly at right angles therewith, as shown in Fig. 2, and two 6 double braces being used, also set at right angles, or nearly so, with the fence-wire. Each end of the' brace-rod is passed through the brace or between its parts, and into an angleplate having a single hole in the center of the upright part. \Vhen these posts are set deep and anchored'well, and the braces thus supported by the brace-rods are resting on the angle-plates that can be forced back by the use of the screw and nut, means are provided 7 5 whereby a post is prevented from giving way when the ground is softened'by rain or by freezing and thawing. As the brace-rods are ceuter bearing they equalize and distribute the strain from the bottom of the post in the So ground to the upper end of the post at the point where the bracing rests against the same.

It has been the custom to support posts by setting a number of them near each other and bracing one against the other; but when the 8 5 ground is soft the pressure is alike on all, and when one leans they all lean, rendering the top wires loose or more loose than the others.

Among the advantages of my device are that the bracing is made adjustable, and that it protects the post from rotting at the surface of the ground, where the post is ordinarily subject to the greatest strain. Bars nailed or spiked on posts weaken and cause decay. A. single red might serve the same purpose if 5 passed through a hole made in the center of the post, but that would weaken it and'cause it to decay by letting in water.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. In combination with a fence-post, a brace, :00

' a brace-rod passed around the post, and a plate adjusting the'rod to the plate substantially as set against the brace, through which plate the described. IO said rod is passed, and means whereby the In testimony whereoflaflix my signaturein rod is adjusted to support and hold the post presence of two witnesses.

in position, substantially as described. XVILLIAM O. GHOLSON.

2. A fence-post support consisting of the Vitnesses: adjustable brace-rod, in combination with the ALEX. H. YOUNG,-

brace, the angle-plate G, and the means for .DAvI S. OLIVER. 

